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I’m guessing you’ll be playing close attention to Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick tonight. Just a hunch.

But here are some other intriguing players to keep an eye on during tonight’s preseason opener against the Saints:

Jeremiah Masoli, QB: Are the Niners legitimately viewing the 5-11 Masoli as their potential third-string quarterback? My guess: No. I think they’ll be making a move to address the situation at some point. But if Masoli dazzles …

Konrad Reuland, TE: How was this guy not drafted? Excellent hands. Runs well. And he’s a very large person (6-4, 260). If the undrafted rookie plays as well in games as he has in training-camp practices, he’ll make the team.

Antwan Applewhite, OLB: Speaking of large individuals who move well, Applewhite (6-3, 258) looks even larger than his listed dimensions. A part-time starter in San Diego last year, he has the appearance of a nice under-the-radar free-agent signing.

Thaddeus Gibson, OLB: A fourth-round pick by the Steelers in 2010, Gibson was quietly claimed off waivers in the middle of last season and quietly played on special teams in the final two games. Now, the Niners will see if they fell into a promising young linebacker.

Aldon Smith, OLB: If the first-round pick duplicates one of his training-camp “flashes,” he’ll be on SportsCenter tonight.

Adam Snyder, C: He’ll surely be supplanted by Jonathan Goodwin as the first-string center soon, but it will be interesting to see how Snyder performs in his first game at the position, on any level.

Chris Culliver, CB: Both Jim Harbaugh and Vic Fangio have been impressed by the third-round pick’s raw skills. Fangio says he’s answered the question of whether he can be an NFL cornerback after playing primarily safety in college.

NaVorro Bowman, ILB: The Niners have gotten 11 years younger with Bowman stepping in for Takeo Spikes. Have they gotten better?

(UPDATE: McKillop did not travel to tonight’s game. A Niners spokesman indicated the reason was injury related) Scott McKillop, LB: Will he play after being reportedly cut by the team Thursday (a 49ers spokesman said they didn’t know why NFL.com listed him as being cut)? Not sure what’s going on here, it wouldn’t seem to bode well for McKillop’s future.